CSE: Robust gains in IT stocks and financials.

Sri Lankan shares closed higher on Thursday, led by robust gains in IT and financial stocks.

The CSE All-Share index settled 0.35% higher at 22,174.74 points.

Swadeshi Industrial Works and Diesel & Motor Engineering were the top gainers by index points, up by 1,500 and 980 points, respectively, on the day.

Trading volume on the index rose to 918.27 million shares from 189.46 million shares in the previous session.

The equity market’s turnover rose to 13.30 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($4.4 million) from 7.32 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.

Foreign investors were net buyers, purchasing stocks worth 702.1 million rupees, while domestic investors were net sellers, offloading shares worth 12.85 billion rupees, the data showed.